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A Perfect Arrangement at Greenbelt Arts Center

In the post-modern age, people
have the right to express who they are unabashedly and the freedom to
experience connections with a wide variety of people – without judgment. A
person may identify as cis- or transgender, non-binary, or agender – gay,
straight, or bisexual – single or married – monogamous or polyamorous – or any
combination of these – and this diversity is tolerated (for the most part.)
It’s a brave new world we live in, so it is difficult to fathom that there was
once a time – not that long ago – when simply leading a “non-standard”
lifestyle and/or expressing opinions that diverged from the narrow band of what
was considered “socially acceptable” could cause an otherwise innocent person
to be labeled as a bonafide threat to national security. This was certainly the
outlook of the United States government during the McCarthy era, a time when
fear of Communists was running high and being seen as “different” was not a
good thing.

A Perfect
Arrangement, written by Topher Payne, directed
by Ann-Lowe Barrett and produced by William Powell, is set in 1950 – on the
front lines of one of the most tumultuous periods in U.S. history. The show,
which is being performed at the Greenbelt Arts Center through the last weekend
of February, is witty at times, upsetting at others, and even occasionally
anger-inducing – sometimes all at once. When
the play opens, we discover three couples having a cocktail party in the home
of Bob and Millie Martindale. Bob is a manager at the State Department in Washington,
DC, and his wife, Millie, is a charming housewife with a winning smile. Norma
Baxter is Bob’s secretary, and her husband, Jim, is a school teacher who knows
how to mix a mean “Baxter Special” (an alcoholic drink made with seltzer,
sardines, and a secret ingredient that Norma identifies as some kind of
vegetable shortening…ick! Moving on.) Rounding out the party are Bob and
Norma’s boss, Theodore Sunderson, and his wife, Kitty – an adorably clueless
woman who is more than a little ditsy. The party conversation is light and breezy, sprinkled with
witty banter, personal stories and commercial-like exchanges about various
household products.

However, the
mood changes abruptly when Sunderson reveals that he had an ulterior motive
when he requested this gathering. For months, Bob and Norma have been working
tirelessly to identify “anti-American sympathizers,” but now the department
wants their help to locate other
potential “security risks” who might be vulnerable to blackmail – but he
specifically wants to target, as Kitty so colorfully puts it, “fags.” After
this announcement, there is a noticeable, growing tension in the room. Bob and
Norma attempt to defuse the situation by graciously accepting the new
assignment and awkwardly returning to their respective spouses to say their
goodnights. When Ted and Kitty finally leave, the source of everyone’s
discomfort is revealed. Bob and Millie don’t have a typical relationship.
Neither do Norma and Jim. The truth is, they are all living in the same house –
as two gay couples. The four made an arrangement years before to pose as husbands
and wives who are best friends and live next door to each other. That way,
nobody would ever suspect a thing. But with this new mission, their secret life
may be at risk. Will the four of them be able to keep up the ruse – or will
they be found out?

The cast of A Perfect Arrangement is – in a word –
brilliant. There are no weak links. As Bob Martindale, Jon Meeker effortlessly
navigates the fine line that exists between his public persona and his private
one. He steps into each role he is playing like a pair of comfortable pants.
Win Britt plays Martindale’s other half, Jim Baxter, and while his role is more
subtle, Britt turns in a very solid performance. While Meeker has a Clark Kent
kind of vibe, Britt seems more of a typical 1950’s husband – that is until he
lets his hair down, figuratively speaking, and then watch out. He’s full of
passion.

Susan
Harper’s Norma Baxter is smooth, refined and nuanced. You can clearly see the
battle going on in her head. On the one hand, she wants to live the rest of her
days loving Millie – maybe even have a baby with her. But she also wants to
have the successful career she’s worked so hard for. Like all the others, the
double life she is leading is taking its toll. As Millie Martindale,
Ronda Ansted plays this dichotomy to the hilt. In one moment, she has the
appearance of a perfectly dutiful wife whose main purpose in life is to serve
her husband and keep him happy. But in the next moment, you can clearly see who
Millie really is once her perpetually
plastered-on smile gives way to a wry scowl. When those moments happen, they
are delicious.

Janice Coffey does an excellent
job playing the delightfully dippy Kitty Sunderson, so named because she once
tried to make friends by inviting people over to play with feral cats she had
collected from the neighborhood. She points out that while most of the injuries
were minor, the incident was so memorable people just started calling her
Kitty, and it stuck. She is as sweet as her husband is bitter. At first glance,
Bob Singer’s Theodore Sunderson saunters across the stage, acting and speaking
like a courteous gentleman – complete with Southern drawl. But then his true
character emerges as he goes on a heated homophobic diatribe. And yet, Singer
still manages to find Sunderson’s humanity, which is to his credit. There is
one last character in this ensemble piece who has not yet been mentioned. Joy
Cecilly Gerst plays Barbara Grant, who at first appears to be the martyr of the
piece, but it soon becomes clear she is a force to be reckoned with. Gerst is
excellent in her role – strong, solid and shows a quiet strength under all the
bravado.

All of the action takes place in
the couples’ living room, which – just in time for Valentine’s Day – is
decorated with plushy furniture in shades of red – with rose-colored walls.
There are several entrances on the stage – a wide door upstage center representing
the front entryway, separate egresses to the kitchen and the bedrooms on stage
left, and a smaller door upstage right. We learn that this door leads to Bob
and Jim’s bedroom. However, when it is opened for the first time, it is obvious
that it is not really a bedroom door. There are coats and other pieces of
clothing hanging on a rod right inside its entry. And then the symbolism
becomes clear. Bob and Jim are in the closet – literally.

And speaking
of closets, 1950’s fashions are generally not the most attractive, at least in
this reviewer’s opinion, but in this production, costumers Hilary Glass and
Jeane Binney blow that notion right out of the water. The women wear some of
the most amazingly gorgeous dresses I’ve ever seen: e.g., a beautiful burgundy
frock with a large chiffon flower in the front, a flowy, earth-toned evening
gown that looks like it’s been trimmed with feathers, a slinky black and white
mermaid-style dress, etc. – complete with appropriate jewelry, fur stoles – and
of course, high heels. Even the casual pedal pushers Millie Martindale
sometimes sports are 50’s housewife chic. The men’s costumes are also solid –
very appropriate for two men posing as upper middle class husbands. At times,
they look as though they stepped right out of a Sears catalog – and it really
works! The set, the set dressing, the impeccable costumes – every minute detail
seems deliberately designed to support the story the two couples have woven –
quite successfully.

A Perfect Arrangement
reminds us that while bigotry is certainly still alive and well, we’ve come a very
long way since the 1950s. Though the subject matter may still be controversial
to some, everyone should find something to appreciate about this taut,
entertaining and eminently watchable production. Highly recommended!

Running Time:
Approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission.

A
Perfect Arrangementplays through February 23, 2019 at the
Greenbelt Arts Center— 123 Centerway in historic Greenbelt MD. For tickets call
the box office at (301) 441-8770 or purchase them online.